What should I expect after cabg surgery?

after open heart surgery

Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) Surgery

Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, sometimes just called bypass, is a procedure that enables a blocked area of the coronary artery to be bypassed so that blood flow is not hindered. In essence, CABG surgery restores blood flow to heart tissue that has been deprived of blood because of coronary artery disease. During bypass surgery, a healthy artery or vein is taken from the leg, arm, or chest and transferred to the outside of the heart. The new healthy artery or vein then carries the oxygenated blood around the blockage in the coronary artery. CABG surgery is usually performed in people with a blocked left main coronary artery, disease in several vessels (arteries or veins), poor function in the heart鈥檚 main pumping chamber (the lower chamber or left ventricle), and debilitating chest pain (also called angina). The CABG surgery is done to relieve symptoms of coronary artery disease, alleviate ischemia (lack of blood to the heart muscle), reduce the possibility of more heart problems, and to prolong life. CABG procedures substantially improve symptoms in more than 90% of patients who undergo the treatment.

What to expect after the surgery?

After the procedure, you will probably spend five to seven days in the hospital. You will be watched closely for the first few hours and your heart will be monitored continuously. In fact, you will probably be in the intensive care unit (ICU) at first. It is not abnormal to spend a day or two in the ICU. You may have a breathing tube to help you temporarily, and there will probably be two to three draining tubes inserted in your chest. These will be removed a couple of days after surgery.

You will be moved from the ICU after a day or so. Your doctor may choose to put you in a normal hospital room or a transitional care unit, where you may begin cardiac rehabilitation. As your incision heals, watch for redness, swelling, or increasing tenderness. Generally, your incision will feel better in a few days.

Recovery from any surgery varies for each patient. Most patients start feeling better and gradually increase their activity in about four to six weeks. It is important in the post-operative phase to follow your doctor鈥檚 instructions closely and to report any problems you might have (abnormal pain, signs of infection) to him or her immediately.

For more info check out the website below.

Good luck!!!

A dissected cabbage? What are you talking about?

WELL, I WAS GOING TO TELL YOU BUT JACK BEAT ME TO IT!!!
GOOD LUCK WITH THAT AND ALL!!

Well my mother had this surgery about 6 years ago, and it can effect many people in different ways. I can say expect to wake up in sicu and intubated. Its nothing to be be scared of if you are fairly healthy and have great doctors.
You may experience some depression after your surgery also, but nothing that can't be resolved. Expect to be rehabilitated to your activites of daily living. You will also given exercises and a list of different food and drinks you may have. I hope I was able to help some .

Ghost,

I've mentioned this in my profile, and if you take my advise, as a PROFESSIONAL, hopefully you'll go into it and read the answer I gave to another asking the same.(go into 'best' answers, and it's in the first six or seven).

I'm a Psyche. Therapist in Cardiology/Cardiac Rehab. What you read will give you information as to why you need to attend a rehab. program. As far as what to expect in the hospital, don't depend on anyone being able to fully explain what you're going to go through. It's tough. There's no other way to say it. But, you will receive good care, especially in the ICU or CCU. Once you're ready to go to the floor, you should be feeling much better. An average stay can be as little as four days.Once you get home, the real fun begins. I would like to give you some help in this area, but you'll have to E-mail me so that I can ease you into that part of recovery. I really hope you will. I've been doing this for over 25yrs., and the thing that makes me real good at it is, I love it. Combination goes very well together.

I would like to talk to you before you go in if you're comfortable contacting me. You AND your family will need counseling to get through this stressful time. Take advantage of me.

Grizz
duckling702@yahoo.com

I had open heart surgery to replace a bad valve in 2001, which is an even more serious operation because they have to cut the heart open. You will probably feel weak for a while untill your body recovers from the surgery, but in my case, I was back to work 6 weeks after the operation.

take it easy and do as your medical adviser tels you to do.